Need Analysis

The process of analyzing a student’s financial need, known as “Need Analysis”, focuses on determining how much the family reasonably can be expected to contribute towards the student’s education. Traditionally, determination of an applicant’s need is achieved by collecting information about the family’s income, assets, and living expenses. For the federal student aid programs, the law specifies a need analysis formula that produces the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC and the school’s Cost of Attendance (COA) are used by the school to establish the student’s need as well as to award grants and campus-based aid. The school may request other documents to determine the need for non-federal aid.